Officials are probing how a 51-year-old highway bridge came to collapse in the Italian port city of Genoa yesterday, killing at least 26 people and injuring 16 others as it sent dozens of vehicles tumbling into a heap of concrete and twisted steel.

Leader aspirations are past, says Albanese

Former Labor leadership contender Anthony Albanese says he no longer aspires to the top job.

Mr Albanese lost an historic ballot of ALP grass-roots members and the federal caucus to Bill Shorten after the 2013 election.

"I think probably that's past ... I'm 50 now and Bill, I hope, wins the election next year and I would like to serve as a minister in his government and that will hopefully see me off," Mr Albanese told 2GB radio on Wednesday.